Federal Manager's Daily Report

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. Image: Susan Walsh/AP/Shutterstock

Among the federal employment-related bills offered early in the new Congress is one by Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., the chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, to strengthen certain ethical requirements.

Under HR-599, employees could not use their official position “to participate in a particular matter in which the covered employee knows a former employer or former client of the covered employee has a financial interest.”

Also, an employee could not be “personally and substantially involved” with the award or a contract or the administration of a contract to a former employer within two years of joining the government. Similarly, within two years being involved in the award of a contract, employees could not work for any division of the contractor or a subcontractor.

Also introduced were several prior proposals including: HR-597, to extend MSPB appeal rights to certain Postal Service employees not currently eligible; S-375, to improve efforts to identify and reduce governmentwide improper payments; S-380, to increase public access to agency guidance documents; and HR-1065, to provide for a study on the use of social media in security clearance investigations.